Friends set to embark on ‘very British journey’

TWO friends from Henley will take on a charity ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats on penny-farthings.

Matt Richardson, of Deanfield Avenue, and Bill Pollard, of Deanfield Road, both 59, will cycle 900 miles to the Scottish village from Cornwall in April and May next year.

It is their second charity challenge together in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support after they raised more than £24,000 by cycling from Market Place in Henley to the Eiffel Tower in Paris in June last year, riding 230 miles in five days.

This ride will be four times the distance as the feat they completed last year and the bikes they use will be based on a design from 1869. The journey is expected to take between two and three weeks and the pair will wear tweed suits bringing with them a selection of hats to wear, including boaters, pith helmets and top hats.

Mr Richardson, a father of two, found his love for cycling on a penny-farthing during his recovery after he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2022. He wanted to give back to the charity, which supported him during treatment.

Mr Richardson said: “I was instructed to limit my exertions to a gentle hour per day. Having ridden a penny-farthing once as a birthday treat, it occurred to me that regular use of the same might render that hour more diverting.”

Mr Richardson was then inspired to buy one at the British Penny-Farthing Championships. Mr Pollard then ordered his own.

Mr Pollard said: “After Paris, we lighted upon the idea of a very British journey from one end of our great island to the other. Although it is a well-known bicycling challenge, very few people have done it on a penny-farthing. For good reason, it’s utterly insane.”

The pair will depart from Land’s End on April 16 and plan to reach John o’ Groats on April 25. To donate, visit justgiving.com/page/penny
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